Chin named director of counseling and psychological services

Posted September 24, 2013; 10:00 a.m.

by Emily Aronson, Office of Communications

Calvin Chin, director of counseling at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, has been named director of counseling and psychological services at Princeton University Health Services (UHS). Chin has 14 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, with a focus on college mental health. His appointment is effective Oct. 1.

Reporting to UHS Executive Director John Kolligian, Chin will lead the Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) unit, which provides a broad array of mental health, counseling and crisis intervention services to Princeton students. Chin will oversee a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, postdoctoral fellows and administrative staff.

"Calvin is a gifted clinician, skilled manager and compassionate person. He balances respect for tradition and culture, with readiness to advance change and quality improvement," Kolligian said.

Since 2011, Chin has overseen all clinical functions of the counseling department at John Jay College, which is part of the City University of New York. He supervised a team of 19, managed the department's budget and served on college-wide committees.

Chin said he is excited to join the Princeton community.

"I was drawn to this position because of the opportunity to work with such amazing students," Chin said. "I hope to bring to CPS a renewed focus on collaboration and outreach so that the service becomes an integral part of the University community."

"In addition to his strengths as a clinician and clinical supervisor, Calvin is a dynamic collaborator," Kolligian said. "He has led innovative mental health-related outreach and community education efforts at two institutions, and has specialized expertise in serving the mental health needs of culturally diverse populations."

Chin previously served for seven years as assistant director for outreach and community clinical services at Columbia University's Counseling and Psychological Services. There, he coordinated outreach between counseling services, academic departments and student groups. Also at Columbia, he was a staff psychologist as well as an adjunct professor of counseling psychology at the university's Teachers College.

His experience includes psychological research and work at Bellevue Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He served as a consultant for the Asian and Pacific Islander Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (APICHA).

Chin earned his master's degree in psychology and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.